Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Different weather does strange things to your garden

Not uncommon, most years vary in temperatures, snow accumulations and if cold weather arrives early or stays late. I am sure you notice it as well.

Well this spring my garden told me its displeasure in last winters long and cold visit! (maybe it showed me is a better description, before you all go thinking I here whispers in the wind... again! ☺)

Below is a photo of my little rock garden I have under my spooky tree. I have mentioned this spot and told you the tale of the tree before. I also mentioned why I planted many types of vines to climb up it to keep it a living community for birds, butterflies and other critters.

remember all these pretty red and yellow tulips?

(All photos are clickable to see larger.

Please do not steal, just ask if you would like to borrow)

Spring was in blooming colorful force, last April 21. The crocus were done, the hostas were starting to quickly dig out their faces from the soil. The critters and plants were busy singing their spring song.

I remember remarking to my friend and neighbor, "the park ranger" that this spring was so pretty! It filled us all with cheer and hope that the rebirth of mother earth can only do.

We had our usual spring and summer storms and clean up duties left over form the previous winter. But with everything popping up and shooting "look at me" it made the chores go a little easier.

Then came the long cold dead of winter. Long gray days and freezing nights. When spring did finally start to appear it brought with it much fury, as if she was filled with resentment for winter daring to take up so much of "her" time! Spring is still on the warpath!

So almost a year later here is the same rock garden just beginning to show some life.

April 25, 2011

A few tulips leaves show promise, the crocus were few and most did not bother to even open their eyes, just slowly climbed back under the covers until next year.

May 9, one lone red tulip, and the start of other green neighbors

May 17, poor faded and shredded tulip's last gasp

When the tulip first showed signs of awakening it had 2 or 3 cousins. Then somebody (most likely my mystery gardener) got hungry and had the buds for a snack. The hostas are filling in nicely as well as the spotted nettle, whew!

If you are able to look closely (try clicking on the image), you may also see something more is happening to the spooky tree. Below is the tree before anything was even attempting to grow in the rock garden.

Oh My! It is almost naked!

Last year it was fully covered with vines, flowering, hops and grapevines to name a few. Well Mr. Winter pulled them all just about down and along came spooky trees bark! I will be working on finding more ways for my vines to grab onto spooky tree. I can't bear to see it naked! I will post more later on spooky trees trauma and if she makes it to be a wildlife haven once more.

Have you noticed things in your yard or garden growing differently after longer or shorter winters?

My final thoughts this week are for all my fellow Americans and readers who are facing the terrible storms, tornadoes and devastation that spring is still spewing out. We have been blessed, we narrowly missed a tornado this past weekend.

You just never know with bulbs. Some come back relatively year after year others seem to need a rest. What I know is that the leaves feed the bulb which put its energy into to the bloom and making seed so picking the blooms before they go to seed conserves the energy and the bulb will me more likely to bloom the next year. Otherwise you may be waiting 2-3 years for seeds to develop the bulb and for it to mature enough to bloom. Apparently I passed this information to my children when they were young because they picked my long awaited blooms and brought them to me proudly claiming to have saved them from going to seed so they would bloom again next year.What could I say except thank you :)

I hadn't heard about tornadoes in your area. Guess I was glued to the tv coverage of MO and now KS and OK. Since I went to school in LaX and have a sister in the twin cities I paid attention to those warnings. Hope your son and family there are safe.Bunnies have nibbled our tulips but the flowers are hanging in.I've been outside more and need to share pics.Best wishes for your scary tree.

We planted some flower seeds in a planter like a month ago and I thought for sure they would all be up now. Just not in the mood to sprout guess and we have open tulips in the area so maybe its just me lol

I have noticed a weirder spring so far this year - I think some things got really confused because we had summer heat and humidity in March and April, followed by frigid temperatures (with frost advisories), then back to heat again. It's been a roller-coaster ride for sure - most of my 'usual' plants started blooming really late, and seem a lot more sparse this year.

Maybe you could wrap your spooky tree with clear fishing line to give the vines something to cling to but not look funny? :) What is blooming and growing is looking awesome, though! Hopefully next spring we'll get luckier...fingers crossed! :)

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